China trade slumps for first time since May 2020 on zero-Covid rules November 7, 2022 A combination of strict Covid-19 containment measures hobbling factories and a global economic slowdown have kneecapped China’s trade position, official figures out today revealed. Beijing’s commitment to blanket lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus has disrupted production, forcing down factory output and leaving Chinese exporters with fewer goods to ship abroad. The world’s [...]
This Week’s Financial Markets November 7, 2022 | City Talk Looking back to last week, we had a busy week on the calendar. Kicking off the Central Banks was the RBA on Tuesday morning who hiked rates for the 7th consecutive meeting, by 25bps, but sparked some speculation that they could in fact end their hiking cycle earlier than expected. However, with the YoY Trimmed [...]
Nervous markets scratch their heads over lockdown pain due to confusing China Covid policy November 7, 2022 Despite a big relief rally at the back end of last week, US markets still couldn’t reverse the losses of the previous three days, closing lower for the first time in three weeks, although for European markets it was a somewhat different story. The DAX finished higher for the fifth week in succession, posting its [...]
Bank of England record recession warning reinforced by fresh research November 7, 2022 A new survey out today reinforces the Bank of England’s warning last week that the UK is headed for the longest recession on record. The economy last month was functioning at the same level as during the teeth of the 2021 winter Covid-19 lockdown, according to consultancy BDO. The firm’s output index, which measures the [...]
Hunt faces potential Tory backlash as he draws up plans to raise £50bn November 6, 2022 There are growing government fears about a potential Tory backlash against Jeremy Hunt’s fiscal statement as he looks to find ways to raise £50bn. Hunt will raise taxes and cut future real-terms spending in his 17 November autumn statement, with the chancellor looking at proposals to freeze Income Tax thresholds as a part of a [...]
Euro on course to stay below US dollar parity for some time, Goldman warns November 6, 2022 The euro is on course to stay below parity with the US dollar for some time if gas prices do not fall markedly, a top Wall Street bank has said. The currency used by the 19 countries that make up the eurozone is set to drop to $0.94, according to Goldman Sachs. The euro last [...]
Bank of England watchers eye Pill and Ramsden speeches November 6, 2022 Bank of England watchers are in for a bumper week as several top rate setters provide hints on the trajectory of UK monetary policy after last week they said the economy is on course for the longest recession on record. Despite the bleak projections by the Bank, London’s FTSE 100 fared well last week, climbing [...]
Global food prices drop to lowest levels since invasion of Ukraine November 5, 2022 Global food prices have fallen to their lowest levels since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, UN data shows. Food prices have fallen back down to levels last seen at the start of 2022, before Russia’s February invasion of the breadbasket of Europe caused food prices to surge, data from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization [...]
China doubles-down on zero-Covid policy November 5, 2022 China is set to continue with its current approach to tackling Covid-19, Chinese government officials said on Saturday. China will persevere with its “dynamic-clearing” approach to tackling Covid, officials from the China National Health Commission told a news conference today. The statements follow claims made by a former Chinese disease control official, at a conference [...]
Exclusive: Brexit bites into London’s FX trading as Singapore and New York seize City’s derivatives share November 5, 2022 London’s status as the global hub for FX and derivatives trading is under threat for the first time since Brexit. According to new findings shared exclusively with City A.M. today, a study by the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) found that while the UK remains the leading hub for currencies and interest rate derivatives trading, [...]